Bajamar: A Vibrant Seafaring Culture

Bajamar owes its name to the unique configuration of its coastline, where the cyclical retreat of the waters exposes the volcanic rock of the islands. Although for sailors the word refers to the period of lowest sea level, during the overseas expansion of Spain and Portugal (15th and 16th centuries), this and other nautical terms extended their meaning to the mainland. Thus, “bajamar” came to also refer to the extensive rocky platforms that are exposed when the waters recede. For centuries, the bajamares have shaped our landscape and determined the livelihood of the archipelago’s inhabitants.

Since prehistoric times, the phenomenon of the bajamar has offered a vital opportunity. The Guanches took advantage of this receding of the sea to organize large-scale shellfish harvests and collect the fresh water that flowed from the cliffs and pooled in the puddles. Furthermore, according to chroniclers, this was their favorite setting for rituals and celebrations. Archaeological research has documented sites along the region’s coastal springs, notably the Las Goteras cliff, with its cave burials, and the Barranco de Perdomo, where the importance of "lapas" and "burgados" in the pre-Hispanic diet has been confirmed. These bajamares were veritable natural pantries that required precise knowledge of lunar cycles for optimal use.

The origins of Bajamar reveal a place where Guanche heritage intertwines with Portuguese influence. In fact, the word derives from the Portuguese “baixamar,” and its adoption into our language serves as a reminder of the mastery our Iberian neighbors possessed in the art of navigation during the 15th century. It is no coincidence that this Portuguese loanword designates this beautiful coastal spot in Anaga, as there is evidence of a significant presence of Portuguese settlers in the repopulation of the Tejina region, intermingled with people from Lanzarote and Fuerteventura. Sailors who, once on dry land, devoted themselves primarily to the cultivation of grapes.

What we now enjoy as swimming pools were, until not long ago, large pools where ingenious fishing techniques were used. It is possible that the Guanches used the latex from native plants such as the cardón or the tabaiba to embarbascar the fish that became trapped in the bajamar pools, as this practice has been documented in Tenerife since 1526. This symbiosis with the marine environment is one of the oldest features of our identity: the bajamares have always set the rhythm of life on the islands.